Sei sulla pagina 1di 1

Writing Introductions

There are many ways to introduce an academic essay or short paper. Most academic writers,
however, appear to do one or more of the following in their introductions:

establish the context, background and/or importance of the topic


indicate an issue, problem, or controversy in the field of study
define the topic or key terms
state of the purpose of the essay/writing
provide an overview of the coverage and/or structure of the writing

Introductions to research articles and dissertations tend to be relatively short but quite complex.
Some of the more common moves include:

establishing the context, background and/or importance of the topic


giving a brief synopsis of the relevant literature
indicating a problem, controversy or a knowledge gap in the field of study
establishing the desirability of the research
listing the research questions or hypotheses
providing a synopsis of the research method(s)
explaining the significance or value of the study
defining certain key terms
providing an overview of the dissertation or report structure
explaining reasons for the writer's personal interest in the topic

Examples of phrases which are commonly employed to realise these functions are listed below.
Note that there may be a certain amount of overlap between some of the categories under which
the phrases are listed.
Establishing the importance of the topic for the world or society
X is a fundamental property of .
X is fast becoming a key instrument in .
X is a common disorder characterised by .
X plays an important role in the maintenance of .
Xs are the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known.
X is a major public health problem, and the main cause of .
Xs are one of the most rapidly declining groups of insects in ....
In the new global economy, X has become a central issue for .
X is the leading cause of death in western-industrialised countries.
Xs are one of the most widely used groups of antibacterial agents and .
X is increasingly recognised as a serious, worldwide public health concern.
X is an important component in the climate system, and plays a key role in Y.
In the history of development economics, X has been thought of as a key factor in .
Establishing the importance of the topic for the discipline
A key aspect of X is .
X is a classic problem in .
A primary concern of X is .
X is at the heart of our understanding of .
X is an increasingly important area in applied linguistics.
7|Page

Potrebbero piacerti anche